The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr. Kashifu Inuwa, has advocated the need for enhanced collaboration among all stakeholders in the current drive for Nigeria’s digital transformation in view of the critical roles of innovation and reformative policy in national sustainable growth.
The NITDA’s boss gave the charge in his address delivered at The Omniverse Summit 2025 in Lagos, in which he highlighted Nigeria’s potential to emerge as a global digital leader through synergized efforts of all stakeholders in the nation’s digital ecosystem.
Represented at the event by the agency’s Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Dr. Aristotle Onumo, the Director-General disclosed that currently with an internet penetration rate of over 55% and a digital economy’s projected to contribute over 20% to the nation’s GDP by 2030, Nigeria’s tech ecosystem was experiencing remarkable growth.
Inuwa, who cited leading Nigerian-developed fintechs such as Flutterwave, Paystack, and Moniepoint as prime examples of how innovation had been attracting billions in investment and revolutionizing the nation’s financial services landscape, maintained that beyond fintechs, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) were significantly influencing vital sectors including governance, agriculture, healthcare, and education globally.
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According to him, to sustain this positive trajectory in Nigeria, NITDA has remained committed to fostering innovation through investments in research and development, talent development, and startup support systems aimed at bridging the digital divide and promoting digital literacy.
Inuwa further expatiated that recognizing that no digital economy can thrive without adaptive policies, the agency has been prioritising regulatory frameworks like the Nigeria Startup Act, which provides a structured approach to nurturing innovation in the country, in policy initiatives to boost the digital economy.
He expressed optimism that the NITDA’s Regulatory Intelligence Framework, which aims to protect consumers while also enabling businesses to scale efficiently and ensures that its policies remain dynamic, intelligent, and responsive to the changing digital landscape, and other initiatives held great potential for transforming the digital economy’s landscape.
To consolidate on the modest achievements recorded so far in the nation’s digital economy drive, Inuwa stressed the need for robust data protection laws, enhanced cybersecurity measures, and AI governance strategies that foster responsible technology use.
Describing stakeholders’ collaboration as the glue that binds innovation and policy into tangible progress, the industry expert emphasized the role of public-private partnerships in Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
While recalling the recent collaborative initiatives of the Federal Government and global tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and Meta, as examples of the significance of strategic synergy, Inuwa particularly pointed out the recent agreement between the government and Google to position Nigeria as a global tech hub to justify his views.
In addition, he spoke about NITDA’s ongoing initiatives, including the Digital Literacy for All programme, which is in collaboration with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which aims at achieving 70% digital literacy across the country by 2027.
Inuwa further stressed that strengthening ties between industry and academia would remain critical in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical applications, thereby ensuring a digitally competent workforce in the country.
This is even as he highlighted Nigeria’s active role in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that by harmonizing digital trade policies and leveraging strategic partnerships, Nigeria can unlock new markets and attract increased foreign investments through the pact.
He maintained that as the theme of the summit indicated that the stakeholders were truly ‘Unified by Vision and Empowered by Collaboration’, let them explore the opportunity availed by the forum “to build a Nigeria where technology serves as an equalizer, empowering every citizen, every business, and every sector.”
